Tsagaan Sar – Mongolian lunar new year

Arrive in Ulaanbaatar the capital city of Mongolia. Transfer to hotel. if you arrive early city sightseeing will available. Visit Chinggis khaan museum, if available enjoy traditional art performances including famous throat singing and contortion show. Welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant.

Your service team will be picked you up from your hotel after that you have breakfast, then board the vehicle with your guide and stop off at Gandan Monastery – enter the temples, including that of the Megjid Janraisig with its huge golden Buddha statue. You can see special chanting which is only recited on the Eve day of the White Moon(Tsagaan Sar). Afterwards, head west to the northern part of Gobi which is the nature reserve of Khogno khan, where you will reach our nomad family who spends their winter near the dunes for 280km. Upon arrival, settle into your ger alongside the camel herder nomad family. Then you will prepare to visit the nomad’s ger to celebrate ‘Bituun’, which means full dark and without moon, the eve day of the Mongolian Lunar new year and the ending date of winter. Families put three pieces of ice and hay at the doorway for the deity Baldan Lham and her mute because people believe that the deity visits families on the Eve of Tsagaan Sar. Families usually prepare their ‘Idee’- its feast of sheep rump, erect layers of traditional pastries on big plates by odd numbers decorated with dairy products such as curd, cheese and double cream and candies. Airag – fermented mare’s milk is the main beverage of celebration, it’s filled in a big bowl on the table. On the eve day, nomads cook air-tight meals including steamed and fried dumplings at the dusk. You will celebrate ‘Bituulekh’ – the eve day of the Tiger year with host indigenous. Stay overnight in ger alongside camel herder nomad family

Today you will get up early and prepare for Tsagaan Sar! Nomads get up before daylight and dress in recently crafted traditional garb and the housewife makes new milk tea of the new year and tastes to sprinkle for eternal blue sky. You will attend to all rituals and traditions like family members. Some nomads fire worship on the mountain, if you wish, you can attend it. After sunrise, we will go for ‘ Mor Gargakh’ – people go in the best directions to do some rituals this year according to mentioned in the lunar calendar. Every people has their way to consider ritual personally. After the first breakfast of the Rabbit year, ‘Zolgolt’ – a respected greeting will start. Nomads hold symbolic blue scarf, which express their respect for each other. Then they greet each other, including extending their arms and turning their palms up. Younger people support the elder at the elbows and say ‘ Amar baina uu?’ meaning ‘ how are you?’ elders say ‘ Mendee, Amar sain uu?’ meaning ‘fine and you?’ and elders kiss their cheeks. Part of the greeting, exchanging snuff bottles is a unique greeting culture among Mongolians, it’s a treasure bottle filled with natural tobacco powder, then greet ‘ Have had a happy new year or ‘ Are your animals strong and fat enough for the spring?’, ‘ Are well and peaceful?’. After the family greetings, families visit the home of parents, elders, relatives, friends, and each other. Ride Bactrian camels to other settlements to visit one of the elder families to great. You can see customs and rituals and get experiences when you spend Tsagaan Sar with nomads. Stay overnight ger alongside the camel herder nomad family.

After a leisurely breakfast journey back east to Hustai. The drive will take 3 hours (190km) and on arrival visit first the park’s information centre where you will learn about the plethora of wildlife roaming the National Park. Have lunch in the ger camp where located right at the park’s entrance, then venture into the park to see the wild Takhi horses. Your guide will be in contact with the park rangers who will relay the animals’ location, and you have a high chance of seeing them close. You can also venture deeper into the park on foot if you wish, perhaps to track wild deer or foxes – Hustai offers wonderful wilderness hiking opportunities. In the late afternoon, drive for 40km to the next family who spends their winter in the Hustai range. Upon arrival, enter the ger and greet with hosts taste for milk tea, steamed dumplings and Airag. Stay overnight ger alongside the nomad family.

After breakfast set off for the remarkable Chinggis Khaan Statue complex 170km. Once you arrive, climb up inside until you reach the exterior staircase which runs up the mane of the horse to a viewpoint overlooking the Tuul River, Terelj & the hills of the Khan Khentii. Then a short drive to a restaurant near the complex’s for lunch. After lunch, return to Ulaanbaatar (an hour/60km), where you will be dropped off at the location of your choice.

After hotel breakfast, you will be dropped off at the airport. End of service.